Or was he? Argument with dog owner.

[Notsuretoputit]

I’ve just been for lunch at a cafe, and was admittedly in a bad temper because I’d left to find my car battery dead, so went back in to order a taxi.

Anyway, on leaving the second time my path was blocked. The path coming from the cafe to the street is lined with thick bushes on either side, and a man, presumably waiting for someone who was in the cafe, was standing with two small dogs, one of which was on an extendable lead on the other side of the path to its owner, blocking the whole path with the lead.

As I walked up he smiled sort of apologetically and shrugged. I said ‘can I get past please?’ and he said ‘I’m trying to pull her back’. It was a small dog, he could’ve easily got her back if he’d wanted to. Anyway, he pulled her half a foot back and said ‘just walk around’. As I walked around, the dog inevitably jumped up. I said ‘totally ridiculous’, and he said ‘how’s that ridiculous?’. I said ‘come on, you’re blocking the whole path’, and he said ‘it’s a little dog, calm down’.

I know I was in a bad mood because of the car, but WIBU?

YABU - the dog did no harm and you should’ve been more patient
YANBU - it is irritating that he shrugged helplessly as if his dogs are so cute no one should mind them blocking the path and jumping up

As an aside, this attitude from some dog owners (and I’m a dog lover) is really grating on me at the moment. We have a large park with signs everywhere saying to keep dogs on the lead, and so many don’t. My toddler nephew was nearly knocked off his feet a couple of weeks ago by an off the lead large dog being called over the park’s footpath from one owner to the other, and they just shrugged and shouted sorry, same as when off the lead dogs approach you and instead of an apology and putting them on the leads they just say ‘ah he’s harmless’.

If dog owners weren’t so inconsiderate and selfish, these threads would not exist. Please feel free to spread the mind blowing revelation around your dog loving friends that not everyone likes or wants to be around dogs. I really don’t think they get it.

Or possibly just step over the lead?

I agree and in many ways the dog is a red herring. If you're on your own, with your kids, with a dog...it doesn't matter, if you see someone trying to get past you move or make a proper attempt to move without the person having to ask you.

It's pure entitlement otherwise

Oh come on now.

He was a twat. I have a dog and if someone's coming along the pavement I get it the fuck out the way, by walking in the road if I have to. You have to respect that some people don't want dogs anywhere near them

Meh - sounds like a complete non-issue.

I'd find it very hard to get worked up about this. It sounds like the man was apologetic, despite being ineffective. Hardly the crime of the century.

I like dogs, but not little dogs (unless their dachsunds of course - as they're super cute) but nah - still couldn't be this angry over a non event.

Perhaps he has his own problems.

Yes, why not? I have this image in my head of some Headmisstressy/Thatcher type person stopping at a mid-shin tape demanding it be removed before you will step any further. Not quite the OK Corale, but even that started with a game of cards.

I don’t really understand this but no sane person would expect someone to step over a retractable lead so as to not inconvenience a dog.

Wouldn't it have been a bit quicker with no harm done?

@Notsuretoputit great diagram 👍

I am with you. I own a dog, but am of the opinion that he should never be an inconvenience to anyone else. He should move, not the other person. To be fair, I think this of people as well as dogs. Groups of people blocking paths, stopping to chat in doorways, aisles of supermarkets etc all piss me off.

It is usually a complete lack of awareness that other people are trying to go about their business, but in this case it is worse as the owner could have created space for people very easily, but opted not to.

Don’t be ridiculous. No one would step over a three foot high lead hoping the dog didn’t move and trip you. It would’ve been quicker if the owner had saw someone coming along the path and moved the dog. Although this is an insight into how people clearly think - no need to remove this hazard, that person can just attempt to step over it. Bizarre.

You then have the possibility of getting entangled in the lead if the dog decides to move - and not everyone can just step over.

I look able-bodied and I'm fine walking on the flat, but I have a knee condition which means that I have to be careful that they don't click out of place. Stepping over a lead wouldn't be a good idea for me.
ETA Ah. I see that the OP has already addressed this.

I wouldn't step over a lead. Even the owner raising it slightly above ground could lead to a trip.

I'd break my ruddy neck if I tried stepping over something at that height.

Exactly this! Couples blocking the path with outstretched arms holding hands, groups walking five abreast so no one can get through, people parking their trolleys across the aisle until someone asks them to move, cars parked blocking pavements. It’s so rude and inconsiderate.

I suspect it was a bit of both being unreasonable. He should have pulled his dog close to him and have trained it not to jump up, but I suspect you were being impatient and it wasn't more than a few seconds.

That’s probably right.

Nothing to add to the thread except excellent diagram OP, I love the squareish dogs 😂

Edited to add I appear to have quoted the wrong comment, apologies.

Why didn't you just walk around the man? Surely that would have easier than waiting for him to pull the dog back or walking around the dog.

YANBU.
I'm a dog owner and if anyone needs to come past, whether there is limited room or they're scared, anxious - anything, my dog is brought to my feet. Immediately.
He is allowed off lead in a hired dog field only. He is a reactive dog on lead and I know full well how hard and horrible it is to have uncontrolled dogs coming upto mine and stressing him out. He's better off lead and not reactive but I'm aware that people use green spaces and I don't believe the world should revolve around me and my dog so he stays on the lead and in control. I make sure I am considerate. I just wish other people were too.
You also wouldn't believe that even though my dog wears a coat and a lead that is bright yellow and has 'Reactive Dog' plastered all over it, most owners still allow their animals to bound over to mine uncontrolled.

I'd have said a lot more.

Because he was standing next to the opposite hedge to the dog - hence saying they were blocking the whole path.

I don't think anyone has any tolerance anymore concerning dogs full stop.
It's like people go out on the war path trying to create trouble.
You have two sets of issues, people who want to allow their dogs safely off lead and people who seem to have a very strong over reaction over a dog just being a dog.
Theres a cranky lady who walks her dog on a lead over the local park, she waves a stick at any dog who comes within 5 metres of her, she's only had the dog a few months, there are people who have been walking their dogs off lead over there for years, no incidents, yet she now expects everyone else to confirm to get own opinion of how they should walk their dog because she chose to take on a nervous, reactive dog.

Spelling error, meant to say she now expects everyone to confirm to her own opinion of how dogs should be walked.